Met Theodosiy: I implore the international community to protect journalists

Metropolitan Theodosiy speaks at the UN session. Photo: protiktor.com

On April 2, Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv addressed the global human rights community during the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, drawing attention to the arrest of Orthodox journalists in connection with their professional activities and calling for the protection of the rights of these innocent individuals who are suffering.

"Two weeks ago, the Security Service of Ukraine conducted searches of UOJ and 'Pershy Kozatsky' employees. Journalists Valeriy Stupnitsky, Andriy Ovcharenko, and Priest Sergiy Chertilin were sent to investigative isolation. They, along with a number of other journalists, face serious charges related to their journalistic activities, which involved highlighting violations of the rights of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church believers," the bishop explained.

In his opinion, this indicates that today in Ukraine, freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and human rights exist only for those who unquestionably agree with the authorities.

"I urgently appeal to the international community to protect these innocent individuals," the UOC hierarch called on the international human rights defenders.

As the UOJ wrote earlier, on April 2, the arrest of Orthodox journalists was reported at the UN. In turn, human rights activist Oleg Denisov stated that UOJ journalists will be included in the list of "Prisoners of Conscience".

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